KOTA KINABALU, Aug 7 — Three police officers were killed after they were believed to have been electrocuted while removing an iron pole used to harvest coconuts outside the Weston Police Station near Sekolah Kebangsaan Weston in Beaufort yesterday.
The incident, which occurred at about 5.50 pm, claimed the lives of Corporal Chiu Teck Siong, 40, from Sarawak, Lance Corporal Mohamad Nur Hafiz Ibrahim, 29, from Kelantan, and Lance Corporal Muhammad Raimi Ismarubee, 26, from Terengganu. All three were attached to the Weston Police Station.
According to initial investigations, the officers were removing a 29-foot iron pole when it accidentally came into contact with an overhead power cable, causing them to be electrocuted.
Several videos of the incident later circulated on social media, showing three men lying on the road as members of the public gathered at the scene.
The Sabah Fire and Rescue Department's (JBPM) Operations Centre said it received an emergency call at 5.56 pm, prompting the Beaufort Fire and Rescue Station to dispatch a Fire Rescue Tender with a team of seven personnel to the location, about 28 kilometres away.
Sabah Electricity personnel disconnected the power supply at 6.45 pm, enabling firefighters and police personnel to safely retrieve the victims' bodies. The operation ended at 7.45 pm after the area was declared safe.
Sabah police commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said police have opened an investigation paper to determine the exact cause of the incident.
He said post-mortem examinations would be conducted before the remains are handed over to the victims' families.
Early today, the bodies were transported from Beaufort Hospital to the Forensic Department of Queen Elizabeth Hospital here for post-mortem examinations.
A Bernama check at the hospital found that three vans carrying the bodies arrived at 1.10 am, escorted by Royal Malaysia Police patrol vehicles from the Beaufort, Papar, Penampang and Kota Kinabalu district police headquarters.
Beaufort district police chief Supt Champin Piuh said the bodies would undergo post-mortem examinations and documentation before being released to their next of kin.
"After all the formalities are completed, the bodies will be sent to their respective hometowns, accompanied by police officers from the Beaufort district police headquarters," he said.
Meanwhile, Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd said its technical team was deployed to the scene immediately after receiving information about the incident to ensure the area was safe.
The utility company said a detailed investigation was underway, extended its condolences to the victims' families and the Royal Malaysia Police, urged the public not to speculate on the incident, and pledged its full cooperation with the authorities.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has also ordered a thorough, transparent and prompt investigation into the tragedy.
In a Facebook post yesterday, Anwar said the investigation was crucial to determine the cause of the incident and ensure corrective measures are implemented to prevent similar tragedies from recurring.
"I have requested a comprehensive, transparent and prompt investigation to determine the cause of this tragic incident. Improvements must be implemented so that a tragedy like this does not happen again," he said.
The prime minister also extended his deepest condolences to the victims' families and the Royal Malaysia Police.
"Their service and sacrifice in maintaining the peace and security of the country will always be remembered," he said.
